Enclosed fluorescent lighting device



May 6, 1952 J. J. GUERIN ENCLOSED FLuoREscENT LIGHTING DEVICE Filed March 26, 1947 ttorneg s Patented May 6, 1952 'l UNITED ENCLOSED FLUORESCEN'I` LIGHTING DEVICE John J. Guerin, Flint, Mich.

Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,335

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to lighting fixtures and in particular -to fluorescent electric lighting xtures and installations thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide an enclosed iiuorescent lighting fixture which is protected against the weather so as to be suitable for out-of-door installations, and in particular, is so constructed as to resist the entrance of moisture.

Another object is to provide an enclosed fluorescent lighting viixture which is so constructed as to be well adapted to installation in locations subject to spattering from oil, grease or water or exposed to excessive dust, and which may be easily wiped off or washed off without short-circuiting the electrical circuit or otherwise injuring the fixture.

Another object is to provide an enclosed fluorescent electric lighting xture which projects its light through an extremely wide angle, yet is adequately protected against the entrance of undesired liquids, solids or gases, and consequently protects the installation from the accidental ignition of inflammable gases by sparks originating in the xture.

Another object is to provide an enclosed fluorescent lighting xture, as set forth in the preceding objects, wherein the uorescent lighting tube is protected by a transparent plastic shield which permits then light to shine freely in all directions, yet protects the tube from breakage in the event a tool or other solid object is dropped upon it, or a workman leans against it.

Another object is to provide an improved vehicle lubricating hoist having an improved fluorescent lighting system for illuminating the underside of the vehicle.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved enclosed iiuorescent lighting fixture according to a preferred form of the invention, with the lefthand end broken away to disclose the internal construction;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the enclosed iiuorescent lighting fixture shown in Figure 1I with the left-hand end similarly broken away;

Figure 3 is a right-hand end elevation of the enclosed iiuorescent lighting xture shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 ,is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the end caps employed in the enclosed fluorescent lighting fixture of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a vehicle lubricating hoist having an improved fluorescent illu- (Cl. 24U-51.11)

2 mination system employing the enclosed fluores cent lighting xture of Figures 1 to 5 inclusive;

Figure 'l is a side elevation of the lubricating hoist shown in Figure 6, with the floor or ground in vertical Section; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-section along the line 8 8 in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show an improved uorescent enclosed lighting fixture, generally designated I, according to a preferred form of the invention, as consisting generally of an enclosure I i containing a fluorescent lighting xture I2. In the various figures the enclosed lighting fixture I is shown as mounted to project its light sidewise so that its base is vertical and, in the installation shown in Figure 6, is mounted on brackets secured to the vehicle hoist.

The fluorescent lighting fixture I2 consists of a hollow inner angle member or inner base I3 of inverted channel cross-section with a top I and side walls I5 (Figure 4). The open side and ends of the channel-like base I3 are closed by a bottom closure plate I6 having upturned end portions Il (Figure l) and inwardly turned top end portions IS. The portions Il serve as end closures for the hollow hase I3 whereas the inwardly turned portions IB serve as brackets upon which the top I4 rests and to which the latter is secured, as by the fasteners I9 (Figure 1).

Mounted on the hollow base i3 near the opposite ends thereof are sockets 20 and 2I facing i toward one 'another for receiving a conventional iiuorescent lighting tube 22. The hollow base I3 contains the usual accessories for fluorescent lighting iixtures (not shown), such as a ballast unit, wiring, etc., the wiring being connectedas usual to the sockets 2t and ZI, and supplied with electricity by an insulated cable 23 having conductors 24 and 25 therein (Figure 3).

The enclosure I I in which the uorescent lighting fixture i2 is mounted consists of a channelshaped outer angle member or outer base 25 having a bottom plate 21 and side walls 28 extending in the opposite direction to the side walls I5 of the xtur'e base Iii and spaced laterally therefrom so as to provide longitudinal recesses 29between the side walls I5 and 23. Inserted in these recesses 29 are the substantially parallel side walls 3i) of a transparent plastic shield or window 3 I of approximately U-shaped cross-section (Figure 4) having an approximately hemi-cylindrical portion interconnecting said side walls 30. The opposite ends of the enclosure II are closed by end plates or caps 32 (Figure 5), having holes 33 therein for the passage of screws S threaded into holes in the end portions I1 of the closure plate I6. lThe caps S2 are provided with platelike portions E5 of outline corresponding to the cross-section of the siiield or window 3! and having correspondingly curved flanges Si projecting longitudinally along the heini-cylindrical outside surface of the shield or window 3i. The flanges 3l' have lower edges it@ (Figure 5) which are cut of snort of the lower edge of the plate-like portion 36 so as to provide a right-angled cutaway portion 39 which extends over the upperv edges fall of tlie side walls 28 of the channel-shaped base 26 (Figures l and ll). A gasket fil of elastic deformable material such as rubber or synthetic rubber is mounted in the space between the ends 32 of the shield or window 3i (Figures 1 and 2) and the adjacent inner surface of theplate-li'ke portions 36 of the caps E2.

In order to mount the enclosed fluorescent lighting fixture I0, any suitable brackets may be provided, a typical installation shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive employing angle brackets 43 bolted as at M to and through the channelshaped base 26 and closure plate IE (Figure 4). The angle brackets 43 in turn are bolted, riveted, welded or secured by other fastening means to the support to which they are attached.

The illuminated vehicle hoist generally designated d5, shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, is

a highly successful installation in which the fluorescent lighting fixtures i@ have been employed. This hoist consists of the usual pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 46 sunk into a vertical hole 4i in the ground or floor G8 and having a plunger i9 reciprocable therein. The supplying of pressure fluid to the cylinder d6, such as compressed air or hydraulic liuid, causes the plunger i9 to rise, whereas the release thereof permits the plunger 49 to descend.

Mounted on top of the plunger di) is a cross member 5J of approximately the width of a vehicle, such as a passenger automobile. Secured to the cross member 5i) in parallel relationship are vehicle tracks 5l of upwardly facing channel cross-section. The vehicle tracks 5| have base or web portions 52 and side walls or flanges 53 which are flared outward at their opposite ends, as at lill, in order to facilitate guilding the vehicle wheels onto the tracks 5i. In

order to successfully illuminate the underside of the vehicle, to reveal details of the chassis closed fluorescent fixtures IG, according to the present invention, are mounted longitudinally along the inner flanges 53 of the track 5I and secured thereto by having their angle brackets 43 bolted thereto as at 55 (Figure 8). The fluorescent lighting fixtures I0 are connected by wiring (not shown) to an external source of current so that they may be conveniently energized. By this means the bottom portion of the vehicle is brightly illuminated and the illumination kept bright by the ease of cleaning the enclosure Il). If oil falls on the `transparent plastic shield or window 3l, it is merely necessary to wipe it off with cotton Waste or rags. 1f a tool falls upon any of the fixtures Ill, or a Workman leans against them, or rain or snow falls upon them (if they are mounted in an outside location) no damage is done, because the enclosure Il is moisture resisting. Ordinarily, however, it is not necessary that the enclosure I! be made steamtight or gastight because it is not ordinarily mounted under conditions or in a location Yrequiring such extreme precautions for safety or dependability.

What 1 claim is:

1. A weatherproof, explosion-proof and liquidtight fluorescent lighting comprising an elongated transparent shield of approximately U-shaped cross-section having spaced approximately parallel side walls and an approximately semi-cylindrical portion interconnecting said side walls land arching over the space therebetween, an elongated base structure including inner and outer elongated angle members having laterallyspaced elongated side flanges extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of said angle members, the inner member side anges extending in the opposite direction to the outer side flanges, the spaces between said side flanges being substantially equal to the thickness of said shield side walls and said shield side Walls fitting snugly into said spaces in liquid-tight relationship therewith, said inner angle member having an elongated plate-like top portion extending between its side flanges, a fluorescent lighting fixture mounted on said top portion Within said shield, cap-like end members secured to said base structure in snugly fitting engagement with the enus of said shield in liquid-tight relationship therewith, said end members having arcuate flanges extending around the perlpheral'end portions of said shield, said inner angle member having an elongated bottom opening between its side flanges, and an elongated bottom member mounted in spaced relationship to said-top portion adjacent the outer edges of said inner angle member siue flanges and closing said bottom opening, said bottom member having end portions bent relatively thereto toward and into engagement with the endsol' sain top portion in closing relationship with the ends of said bottom opening of said inner angle member.

2. A weatherproof, explosion-proof and liquidtight fluorescent lighting unit comprising an elongated transparent shield of approximately U-shapecl cross-section having spaced approximately parallel sidewalls and an approximately semi-cylindrical portion interconnecting said side wailsanrl arching `over the space therebetween, an elongated base structure including inner and outer elongated angle members having laterallyspaced elongated side flanges extending along the opposite longitudinal edges of said` angle members, the inner member sideiianges extending in the opposite direction to the outer side flanges, the spaces between said side flanges being substantially equal to the thickness of said shield side walls and vsaid shield side walls fitting snugly into said spaces `in liquid-tight relationship therewith, said inner angle member havingY an`elongated plate-like top portion extending between its side flanges, a fluorescent lighting fixture mounted on said top portion within said shield, cap-like end members s'ecured to said base structure in snugly vtting engagement with the ends of said shield in liquidtigyht relationship therewith,l said end members having arcuate flanges extendingr around the peripheral end portions of said shield, saidi'nner angle member having an elongated bottom' opening between its side flanges, and an elongated bottom member mounted in'spa'ced relationship'to said topportion adjacent the outer edges of said inner angle member side vflanges and `closing said bottom opening, said bottom member having end portions bent relatively thereto towardandinto 'engagement' with' the "en'ds `of said top portion in closing relationship With the ends of said bottom opening of said inner angle member, said bottom member end portions having top attachment portions bent inwardly relatively to said bottom member end portions and secured to said top portion.

JOHN J. GUERIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Carlstedt July 30, 1912 15 Number Number 

